CROWDS came together once more this weekend as thousands flocked to Cockermouth Show to celebrate the very best of agriculture and rural life in the Lakes.
The show held at the Fitz, Cockermouth has run for hundreds of years with organisers keen to be back after a two year forced hiatus caused by Covid.
With everything from gleaming livestock to traditional Cumberland wrestling, the show was a grand day out for many families - as well as a real celebration of the best of Cumbrian farming.
Old and young flocked to the fields to show their animals, take part in a traditional wrestle and enjoy the day.
Cattle, sheep, goats, and horses were all on display to be judged at various points throughout the day as well as showing of foxhounds, terriers and sheepdogs.
Unfortunately there was no poultry on display this year due to bird flu.
Show secretary Norma Boyes, who has held her position on the committee since 1987, said: "We would just like to say thank you to everyone involved, there is a very large committee that put an awful lot of work into this and basically if it wasn't for them the show wouldn't happen.
"Historically, we try to keep it affordable for everyone, and without the committee we couldn't do that.
"We are lucky in that we get a great amount of support from the local community and local business and we're very grateful for that - it didn't dampen anybody's spirits but we were unfortunate that we got a bit of rain."
The show had to be cancelled for two years due to Covid - but organisers were keen that the pandemic did not put an end to the event that has run as a staple in the Cumbrian countryside calender for hundreds of years.
Norma said: "It was important to re-establish it, this show has been going since 1849 so we didn't want to finish it off.
"It's a great social occasion but you also have the best of agriculture on display with all the animals and you're also promoting British food which right now is important really."
The event was a special one for the show's chairman, who took up the position for the first time this year.
Talking about his first show as chairman, Ian Armstrong said: “It was excellent. It was really good, there was a massive turnout, everyone was glad to be back in action, there was also a great turnout of livestock.
“The weather was drizzly, but it certainly didn’t dampen the spirits of those who attended.”
Picture: Rachel Stewart
Ian said the event is good for the community, and now that there are no imminent threats of Covid getting in the way of any future shows, he and the rest of the organising team are going full steam ahead for the next show next year.
"This is my first time as chairman and normally when you’re that busy working you don’t get to see much of the show, but I actually saw a lot more of it this time, including the vintage, there’s a lot to it and there’s something for everyone," Mr Armstrong said.
Picture: Rachel Stewart
“We couldn’t have poultry because of the bird flu pandemic which was unfortunate but hopefully we’ll have them next year.”
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